Questions raised over fairness of NDP leadership rules

QUEBEC — New Democrats have committed to making the economy the top issue when Parliament resumes next week.

Speaking part way through a caucus strategy session in Quebec City Wednesday, interim leader Nycole Turmel said Canadians could count on the official Opposition to promote job creation to stave off a possible recession, defend the Canadian Wheat Board and push for a boost to public pensions.

The party will also try to convince the Conservative government to reconsider the tight timeline it has set to cut the deficit and to instead invest in infrastructure as a means of creating jobs.

“Stephen Harper sticks to a failed approach of giving away billions to profitable companies with no guarantee of a single job created,” Ms. Turmel said.

“New Democrats believe we must reward the actual job creators through programs like a job creation tax credit.”

She slammed a Conservative plan to scrap the wheat board, noting doing so would “effectively abandon the family farm,” and suggested that gradually increasing public pension benefits makes more sense than continuing to “double down on the same private pension funds that have already failed so many.”

Finance critic Peggy Nash added a Tory plan to cut departmental spending by $4-billion to eliminate the deficit by 2014 — a year ahead of schedule — is likely to do more harm than good.

“We, of course, want to see the deficit eliminated but what we’re saying is you’re going to make that worse if you act too quickly,” she said.

“What we’ve been saying is you can slow that down slightly and use the opportunity to invest in our economy, put people back to work . . . and take advantage of rock bottom interests rates.”

While Stephen Harper hinted last week that the government could be “flexible” in terms of its timelines, Ms. Nash isn’t optimistic.

“Stephen Harper and flexibility are two words that don’t always go together,” she said.

“But we would encourage the prime minister not to be ideological in his approach to the economy and to really consider putting to work some of the 1.5 million unemployed Canadians.”

As party spokeswoman on matters related to finance and the economy, Ms. Nash expects to play a prominent role in the upcoming session.

It’s among the reasons she’s now seriously weighing the pros and cons of entering the leadership race to replace Jack Layton, who lost his battle with cancer last month.

Ms. Turmel set some additional rules of the race Wednesday, instructing prospective caucus candidates that they would have to relinquish their shadow cabinet posts, chairmanships and party officer positions if they decide to run.

That includes giving up the offices, extra staff and any bump in salary that comes with holding one of those positions.

“There are people who are encouraging me to run, but there’s lots to consider,” Ms. Nash said.

“Jobs and the economy are obviously foremost in the minds of many Canadians right now and it’s a big responsibility to lead that as the finance critic so one of the factors I’m certainly considering is what would be the impact if I did decide to seek the leadership.”

Echoing the sentiment of many of her colleagues, she nonetheless rejected the notion that the new rules could hurt the party’s ability to mount an effective Opposition if many frontbenchers are pushed to the back.

Ms. Nash said there are many other talented people within caucus who are ready to step up.

Officials said the one exception to the rule is the job of deputy leader, since it’s considered a mostly honorary title with no specific responsibilities. That said, the decision has raised questions about whether that might give deputy leader Thomas Mulcair an unfair advantage.

While Mr. Mulcair has yet to declare his candidacy, it’s widely expected he will in the coming weeks.

Gatineau MP Francoise Boivin, who immediately threw her support behind party president Brian Topp when he became the first to declare his candidacy Monday, was among several MPs who thought the position should be treated no differently than others under the new rules and disagrees with the exemption.

“Personally, I think I would put them in the same lot,” she said.

“I think people who hold important titles within caucus should concentrate on their quest for leadership.”

MP Nathan Cullen, who is considering entering the race himself, said he wasn’t bothered by the decision.

“As a potential candidate, I wouldn’t feel encumbered by somebody else having an honorific title,” he said.

“What this is going to be about is ideas and going out and talking to members and new members. An honorific title I don’t think is going to make the difference.”

For his part, Mr. Mulcair said he would respect the rules set out by Ms. Turmel.

Earlier in the day, Olivia Chow broke down as she thanked colleagues for their support in the wake of her husband’s death.

“I want to thank . . . every one of you for your love, your support, your notes and your gifts. It means a tremendous amount for me and my family,” she said, choking back tears.

“Jack considered all of you his friends. Like his second family.”

As a personal gesture, she also handed Ms. Turmel a pair of eagle feathers her husband considered “sacred.”

While the second feather was given to Layton by an aboriginal leader, the first was dropped from the sky by a circling eagle during a kayak trip near the Queen Charlotte Islands following the 2006 election.

A local Haida elder explained that it was a leadership feather and blessed both the feather and Mr. Layton.

Ms. Chow said her husband has kept the feathers in his office and has used them to “guide his decision-making.”

It “reminds him that a decision that’s made is not just about here and now, it’s about the seven generations to come,” she said.

“Let the inspiration and wisdom and Jack’s spirit guide us now and in the future.”

It’s not clear whether Ms. Turmel will turn the feathers over to Mr. Layton’s successor.

A senior official, however, confirmed at least one name that’s been bandied about as a possible contender has officially bowed out.

Mr. Layton’s long-time chief of staff Anne McGrath told caucus she would not enter the race but that she would stay on as chief of staff for the next seven months “to support the caucus and continue building a strong, dedicated, loyal staff team.”